Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 11:55 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 4:24 p.m.

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Ocala Fire Rescue got a call at 11:02 a.m. and was on scene in minutes.

The blaze was in Building 2000 at the complex located at 2701 SW 41st St. There are 16 units in the building, but just one side, with eight units, was affected.

Fire officials said it looked like the fire was caused by an electrical issue and that it appeared to have started in the closet of an upstairs apartment.

Smoke could be seen from several miles away, and when firefighters arrived, they observed flames coming through the roof of the two-story wood structure, according to Ocala Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Brian Stoothoff.

Stoothoff said two of the eight units were completely destroyed by fire or smoke and two others were seriously damaged. He also said the roof caved in.

Eleven firetrucks and 28 firefighters battled the fire. Stoothoff said more than 20,000 gallons of water were used.

"Firefighters remained on scene for more than five hours" Battalion Chief Wally Brinkman said.

A city of Ocala fire inspector was on scene as well.

Everyone in the building got out safely, and there were no injuries.

Apartment complex manager Linda Pando said eight people were affected and that anyone displaced would be offered sanctuary elsewhere in the complex. The damaged apartments were two-bedroom, one-bath units.

A man who gave only his first name as Dwight ran through the scene speaking in a loud voice and said, "I'm losing everything right now. My whole life is gone."

Another man who would only give his first name, Miguel, said the fire started in the outside porch closet in Apartment 2007.

A woman who said she has lived in the complex for 20 years said she was reading the newspaper when someone knocked on her door and yelled for her to leave because of a fire.

A husband and wife said they were eating lunch when they heard neighbors running by knocking on doors.

Tionna Council, who said she has lived there four months in a two-bedroom, bottom-floor apartment, said she was sleeping when she heard a "loud banging" on doors and people yelling "get out."

<p>A fire that started in an outdoor porch closet spread in one building Thursday morning at Paddock Park Apartments.</p><p>Ocala Fire Rescue got a call at 11:02 a.m. and was on scene in minutes.</p><p>The blaze was in Building 2000 at the complex located at 2701 SW 41st St. There are 16 units in the building, but just one side, with eight units, was affected.</p><p>Fire officials said it looked like the fire was caused by an electrical issue and that it appeared to have started in the closet of an upstairs apartment.</p><p>Smoke could be seen from several miles away, and when firefighters arrived, they observed flames coming through the roof of the two-story wood structure, according to Ocala Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Brian Stoothoff.</p><p>Stoothoff said two of the eight units were completely destroyed by fire or smoke and two others were seriously damaged. He also said the roof caved in.</p><p>Eleven firetrucks and 28 firefighters battled the fire. Stoothoff said more than 20,000 gallons of water were used.</p><p>"Firefighters remained on scene for more than five hours" Battalion Chief Wally Brinkman said.</p><p>A city of Ocala fire inspector was on scene as well.</p><p>Everyone in the building got out safely, and there were no injuries.</p><p>Apartment complex manager Linda Pando said eight people were affected and that anyone displaced would be offered sanctuary elsewhere in the complex. The damaged apartments were two-bedroom, one-bath units.</p><p>A man who gave only his first name as Dwight ran through the scene speaking in a loud voice and said, "I'm losing everything right now. My whole life is gone."</p><p>Another man who would only give his first name, Miguel, said the fire started in the outside porch closet in Apartment 2007.</p><p>A woman who said she has lived in the complex for 20 years said she was reading the newspaper when someone knocked on her door and yelled for her to leave because of a fire.</p><p>A husband and wife said they were eating lunch when they heard neighbors running by knocking on doors.</p><p>Tionna Council, who said she has lived there four months in a two-bedroom, bottom-floor apartment, said she was sleeping when she heard a "loud banging" on doors and people yelling "get out."</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>